Microwave Fried Egg

Microwave "Fried" Egg

Sometimes for breakfast I like to have a single fried egg on an English muffin – but I don’t really want to go through all the trouble to actually take out a pan and fry an egg!  When I tried to microwave eggs in the past… they always exploded all over the microwave and made [...]

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding

Years ago, we had a bunch of native sages growing in our front yard.  Among them, was Salvia columbariae, a.k.a. “Chia Sage”.  Many people don’t realize that the “chia seeds” that have become so popular in health food stores and farmer’s markets (also as Chia pets!)… are actually seeds from a sage plant native to [...]

Basic Homemade Crepes (How to make crepes)

Basic French Crepes

Crepes are the foundation of so many wonderful dishes and desserts!  Sweet crepes can be filled with jam, nutella, chocolate, fruit, whipped cream, custard… there are so many variations.  Just roll up or fold the crepe over whatever filling you like, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and top with whipped cream or ice cream.  Voila, dessert! [...]

Avocado Tomato & Basil Tartine

Avocado Tomato and Basil Tartine

There is a small restaurant chain here in San Diego called “Swami’s Cafe.”  We’ve been going there a lot lately, as I’ve become addicted to their “Forked Avocado & Herbs on Toast” and their “Acai Smoothie Bowl“.  Their food is so unique – fresh and healthy – but really tasty and flavorful.  If you ever [...]

Bread Pudding in Whiskey Butter Sauce

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Butter Sauce

This past week, most of San Diego county has been on fire.  I think at one point, there were 9 separate fires burning all over the county… and one of the biggest fires was in my city.  Our entire community had to evacuate, with very little notice.  On day 1 of the evacuation, I ran [...]

Carrot Ginger Walnut Sweet Rolls

Carrot Ginger Walnut Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Happy Spring!  Here’s one of my new recipes… a carrot ginger-walnut roll, similar to a cinnamon roll.  The dough is made with pureed carrots, and the filling flavored with ground ginger – for a interesting variation on the sweet roll.  Topped with a salty-sweet rich cream cheese frosting, this is a wonderful pastry to serve [...]

Taiwanese/Chinese Simmered Egg a.k.a. Tea Eggs (What to do with leftover hard boiled Easter Eggs)

Taiwanese/Chinese Simmered Tea Egg

In parts of Asia (mainly Taiwan and China), the Simmered “Tea” Egg is commonly sold by street vendors (also at night markets) as a savory snack food.  Basically, it’s a hard boiled egg, that has been simmered or steeped in a savory broth (flavored with the spices that make up Chinese 5 spice powder, soy [...]

Green Onion Pancake (Chinese Fried Scallion Pancakes a.k.a. Cong You Bing)

How to make Chinese Scallion Pancake (Cong You Bing)

There are a few different types of savory Chinese or Taiwanese “pancakes” (made with dough instead of batter).  One of these, is “Dan Bing,” a soft tortilla like pancake which is filled with a thin green egg omelet.  The other popular type of pancake, is “Cong You Bing” (a.k.a. “green onion or scallion pancake”) – [...]

Fluffy Gluten Free Pancakes with Coconut Syrup (also Dairy free, Soy free, and Corn free)

Gluten free pancakes with coconut syrup

My friend Ann Marie recently discovered that she has become intolerant to gluten… AND soy, corn, and dairy!  Apparently, it is very difficult to find gluten free products and recipes that are also free of soy, corn, and dairy.  I guess corn is a hidden ingredient in many food products, as is soy.  Even regular [...]

Dan Bing (Taiwanese Pancake with Egg)

Dan Bing

On our recent trip to Taiwan, we stopped at “Yung Ho Restaurant” in the Linkou District of New Taipei City for traditional Taiwanese breakfast food.  This place (a popular Taiwanese chain) is open from the evening all the way through late morning – but closed during the afternoon (when they make all the food for [...]